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The "Spirit" of Bankers
I had a few hours after arriving in Kansas City to wait for Bob Rosberg from Mosler Anti-Crime Bureau to arrive. We were doing three all-day security seminars for the Kansas Bankers Association, and his plane was due in later than mine.
I picked up the rental car and, having taken a good look at a map before I landed, determined I could make Elwood, Kansas and back before Bob was due in.
If you've been a reader for awhile, you'll remember I wrote about the First State Bank of Elwood back in August when they had to vacate their building and move to the other side of the Missouri River to stay in business during the Great Flood of 1993.
The bank's president, Robert Means, told us about watching the water coming up the street towards their bank. They had planned to use Elwood's City Hall as their disaster recovery back-up site, but found they would have had to get to it by boat as the water was almost to its second story. So they made banking history by moving from Elwood, Kansas across the river into another state to continue business in an empty facility in St. Joseph's, Missouri. They had to get permission from their regulator and from both state banking departments before they could make the move.
President Means told me they were going to rebuild in Elwood as soon as it was possible.
Having the opportunity, I drove to Elwood to see what kind of progress they were making.
I drove up the Missouri side of the river, reached St. Joseph's and crossed the bridge over the river into Elwood. What a sight! The land on the Kansas side is perfectly flat, and on this gray December day, was barren. After making the turn to go off the bridge there is a motel (advertising "some rooms are open") and a restaurant with plastic over the front of it-but open for business.
The first new building you see is the First State Bank of Elwood. It stands out like a bright, new penny. The outside is natural wood, with bright, cheerful, clean windows. The parking lot is new blacktop that is black-no mean feat with all the mud and dirt surrounding it! It is inviting and hopeful looking.
The town itself looks like it's working hard to put itself back together. There are piles and piles of trash on the street in front of homes where people have collected the debris from their properties into one spot. You can see how high the water came by the water line and the evidence of river mud on the side of the some homes.
City Hall, a sturdy, brick building with a 1916 cornerstone is scrubbed and neat. It had a sign on it wishing all a Happy Holiday from the Mayor, the City Council and the Employees. Several across-the-street Christmas decorations are in evidence, indicating that in spite of everything, Christmas was welcome.
There is a lot of publicity and press when a natural disaster such as this occurs. And then it becomes yesterday's news. But when you see the work ahead for the people of Elwood, you wonder how they can remain so "upbeat." Banks like First State and people like those who work there make the difference.
We've heard a lot from the regulators and the government about meeting the "spirit" of the law when it comes to CRA. I'm not sure we knew what that meant. But it certainly is illustrated by the folks of the First State Bank of Elwood. It is that spirit that makes the difference in financial institutions.
Copyright © 1993 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 4, No. 6, 12/93
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